With just over 15 minutes left in the match and a 2-0 lead, Sacramento State men’s soccer coach Mike Linenberger began replacing his starters to give them some rest for the upcoming road games in Colorado. It was at this point that junior Oscar Sandoval thought that his day was done with a goal to his credit.

“Not you,” Assistant Head Coach Jason Gantt screamed to Sandoval. “You’re working hard, keep it up.”

After realizing that he got to stay on the field, Sandoval revealed a somewhat relieved smile and headed back to his position.

Minutes later, in the 76th minute, Sandoval received the ball on a corner kick. His initial shot was blocked by an Air Force defender, but a second attempt put the ball in the net and brought out the “samurai sword,” a move that showed the effective end of the match on Sunday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field.

“I thought I was coming out because that was the usual rotation,” Sandoval said, who also scored the first goal of the day in the 33rd minute when his shot was deflected by Falcon goalkeeper Paul Elsbernd but took a Hornets bounce and trickled into the net. “But when I didn’t come out I just wanted to do what Mike (Linenberger) always talks about and put the dagger in their heart.”

After being shut out in their first two conference matches at San Jose State and New Mexico, the Hornets (7-4-1 overall, 3-2-0 in conference) have scored eight goals in their last three matches-all Hornets victories. Of those eight goals, Sandoval scored four of them and assisted on another two goals.

While Sandoval continues to provide stellar offensive play, the defense keeps getting the job done.

The Hornets have allowed just two goals at home this season helping them to a 6-0-0 record at Hornet Soccer Field. Sunday’s match, however, saw the emergence of two different Hornets leading the charge. While they both start and are team leaders, juniors Eric Ortiz and Jesse Manton were huge against the Air Force Academy, who lost their first league match on the season dropping them to 3-1-1 in conference play and 5-7-2 overall.

Manton was often first to the ball and diving in all directions disrupting many Falcons attacks.

“Air Force is atop the standings so we really wanted to go out and get a win today,” Manton said. “Today we played big, especially (Eric) Ortiz.”

Ortiz helped to set the tone for Sac State on Sunday. After creating numerous scoring opportunities early in the game, he took a pass near his own goal and sent a line drive pass 50 yards to a streaking Sandoval to set up the first goal of the day.

Next up for the Hornets, Sac State will head to Colorado and face Denver and the Falcons again. The two matches in the Colorado mountains represent the final road trip of the season for men’s soccer and getting points would be a boost towards their position in the standings.

“It’ll be difficult to get wins there,” Ortiz said. “Especially since we just played them and beat them both so they’ll have some ammunition to use against us.”

Halfway through Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, the Hornets stand three points-three points are earned for a win-behind league leader San Jose State.

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Tyler Stalker can be reached at [email protected]